Utah Faces Dental Disease Epidemic Among Low-Income Children

The AP/Salt Lake Tribune on May 28 examines the "quiet ... epidemic" of dental disease among Utah's low-income children. Low-income children have five times the rate of the dental disease than do children from higher-income families, according to the first oral health survey in the state; 20% of low-income children have 80% of the decay. Further, the survey, completed in December, indicates that 50% of children ages six to eight have untreated tooth decay, and in some rural areas, 60% to 70% of children have not been treated for tooth decay. In 2001, only 31% of the more than 117,300 Utah Medicaid beneficiaries ages one through 20 received dental care, the AP/Tribune reports. Approximately 70% of another 27,000 children covered by the state's CHIP program also received treatment. However, state budget problems have resulted in a reduction in dental benefits under CHIP. CHIP beneficiaries now can only receive coverage for examinations and emergencies, not treatment (AP/Salt Lake Tribune, 5/28).